We are looking forward to the 2015-2016 school year. We are celebrating the retirement of early childhood teacher Mrs. Barb Homan and the hiring of two special education co-teachers, Elizabeth Woodson and Jennifer Underwood. In the coming year, we will have 8 kindergarten classes, 7 first grade classes, and 7 second grade classes.

Primary School teachers use a variety of effective instructional strategies aligned with the Missouri Learning Standards, including common assessments, cooperative learning, small-group instruction, centers, and Readers’ and Writers’ Workshops. Online Discovery Education assessments in reading and math are given as benchmark screenings three times a year, which help teachers prepare instruction based on students’ needs. Rooster Time, which is our building-wide Response to Intervention program, provides for targeted interventions, literature extension, or enrichment activities during four morning sessions each week. Our goal continues to be on-level reading and math achievement for each student.

Summer school is in session from May 26 through June 19. The Primary School office will be closed from June 22 through July 27, and closed again for district enrollment on Aug. 5-6. All families in the Pleasant Hill R-III School District will have to attend residency/enrollment nights on either August 5 or 6 at the high school in order to provide proof of residency and update demographic information. All schools in the district will be represented with information specific to each grade level. More information about this event will be mailed to families in July, posted on our district website, and provided through public media. New students will be assigned to classes based on numbers already enrolled. Class rosters for 2015-16 are posted on the our website and will be updated by August 12.

Parents of kindergarteners will meet their respective teachers at individually scheduled conferences on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Open House for students in grades 1-2 is Thursday, August 13, from 5:00-7:00. The first day of school is Tuesday, August 18. Early Childhood Open House is Thursday, August 20, at 6:00, and Early Childhood classes begin August 24. School photos are scheduled to be taken by Pearce Photography on August 25.

I hope you enjoy the summer and come ready for an exciting new school year in August. While on summer break, students should READ every day and get plenty of exercise to keep those minds sharp!

Parents may like to read some of the books that PS staff have enjoyed over the past couple of years:Brain Rules by John Medina7 Keys to Comprehension-How to Help Your Kids Read and Get It! by Susan Zimmermann and Chryse HutchinsBoys Adrift,Girls on the Edge, and Why Gender Matters, all by Dr. Leonard SaxLove and Logic Magic for Early Childhood: Practical Parenting from Birth to 6 Years by Jim Fay and Charles FayA Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby PayneWriting as a Measure and Model of Thinking by John Antonetti6+1 Traits of Writing by Ruth CulhamBrain-based Teaching in the Digital Age by Marilee Sprenger

Aug. 11: Kindergarten Meet the Teacher, by scheduled appointment.Aug. 13: Open House for grades 1-2, 5:00-7:00pm

Aug. 18: First Day of School
Students may be dropped off at 8:10am (if eating breakfast) or by 8:25am and picked up at 3:37pm. All students should report to the gym.
Aug. 20: Early Childhood Open House, 6pmAug. 24: Early childhood class beginAug. 25: School pictures by Pearce Photography

PTO Trash Bags
PTO trash bags will be available to purchase through the Intermediate school office, Elementary school office, as well as the Primary school office this year. As always, they are $11 a roll and are available in 3 different sizes and colors!

The Pleasant Hill R-III School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Assistant Superintendent, 318 Cedar Street, Pleasant Hill, MO 64080, 816-540-3161.